FROM THE WORKSHOP OF THE FLOATING HANDLES, CIRCA 1ST CENTURY A.D.

Details

A ROMAN COBALT BLUE GLASS AMPHORISKOS WITH BASKET WEAVE PATTERN
FROM THE WORKSHOP OF THE FLOATING HANDLES, CIRCA 1ST CENTURY A.D.
The body blown into a two-part mould in the shape of an amphora encased within a wickerwork basket, with a rope around the shoulder and a wreath of laurel and berries around the middle of the basket, with mould seam on underside of base, tall neck and everted, inward-folded rim, two handles applied under the rim, pulled down to the shoulder but not attached
3 ¾ in. (9.5 cm.) high

Provenance

Acquired prior to 2000.

Special notice

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Lot Essay

The normal practice of applying handles was to first attach the glass to the body of the vessel and then draw the glass upwards and attach at the rim. The Workshop of the Floating Handles did the opposite - the handles were drawn down, but not attached to the body - hence they floated above the surface. The basket weave design is imitating the actual practice of encasing glass vessels to protect them during transportation. For similar, cf. Stern, 1995, p. 154, no. 59 and von Saldern 1974, no. 431 (now Getty Museum no: 2003.309); for a recent study on the Workshop, see Stern, 1992.

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